2 trade rumors Pirates fans hope come true, 2 they hope don't

The Pittsburgh Pirates are expected to be among the most aggressive teams in baseball at the trade deadline, though not for the sake of adding talent.

Instead, the 44-62 Pirates (the lone team in the NL Central without a winning record) profile as one of the most prolific sellers on the market this season, with perhaps only the Arizona Diamondbacks (who already began their sell-off last week) owning more attractive pieces for would-be contenders.

As such, expect to be inundated with rumors over the course of the next few days as fellow teams try to pilfer the Pirates' treasure trove of talent. But which rumors are worth getting excited about, and which ones should we hope are fake?

2 rumors Pirates fans hope come true ahead of MLB trade deadline

Ke'Bryan Hayes will be sent packing

Owner of the third-largest contract in team history, Hayes simply has not lived up to the billing in Pittsburgh.

He did break up Nolan Arenado's historic monopoly on third base Gold Gloves in 2023, though he's never found any consistency at the plate. His combined 59 wRC+ over the past two seasons and remaining $30 million salary simply don't jibe with the Pirates' modus operandi right now, and thus, he finds himself the subject of numerous trade rumors.

Sure, it doesn't help that the Yankees have effectively removed themselves from the third base market by trading for Ryan McMahon, not to mention the omnipresence of Eugenio Suarez, but Hayes' sterling defense could coax some contender into taking a chance on someone who was a league-average bat as recently as 2023.

Tommy Pham will net a solid return in trade deadline deal

Thanks to the Diamondbacks' solid return for their own rental veteran outfielder, Randal Grichuk, rumors have suggested that Tommy Pham, 37, could return a similar package to Pittsburgh.

In return for Grichuk, the Diamondbacks received pitching prospect Andrew Hoffmann, 25, owner of a 2.25 ERA, 2.14 FIP, and 1.13 WHIP in 40 innings prior to the deal.

If Pham, who has hit similarly to Grichuk this year while playing better defense, can net the Pirates something similar, his signing will go down as a major success for the franchise.

2 trade rumors Pirates fans hope don't come true

The Pirates and Cubs will make a blockbuster trade

Perhaps the single-most rumored suitor for the team's cache of assets, the Cubs need exactly what the Pirates are offering: starting pitching, relief pitching, and third base help.

Though it would be foolish to expect them to pony up for Hayes while they deal with their own ownership's made-up budget restrictions, a trade for Mitch Keller and/or David Bednar can't be ruled off the table, especially with Chicago's surplus of outfield prospects in play.

But, given the team's... dubious trade history, especially within the division (read: Aramis Ramirez), perhaps it's better if they steer clear of Jed Hoyer and company before August.

Oneil Cruz is on the trade block

Look, sometimes the idea of a player is just better than the player in actuality. Cruz feels dangerously close to falling into that camp, thus the incessant rumors of the Yankees trying to pry him out of Pittsburgh.

And while his 31.2% strikeout rate and meager 105 wRC+ suggest Cruz isn't all that close to fulfilling his gargantuan potential... I mean, how many people on the planet can even come close to doing something like this?

Trading someone with his skills below the peak of his value just feels like bad business. The Pirates may never be the team to unlock all of Cruz's talents, but giving up on him now while he's still just 26 and has three years of team control remaining is an untenable idea.